The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Homocysteine, C- Reactive Protein and Lipid Profile in Active and Inactive Men

Introduction: A number of studies have reported that regular aerobic exercises can improve cardiovascular biomarkers such as homocysteine, C- reactive protein and lipid profile. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ۴ weeks of aerobic exercise on homocysteine, C- reactive protein and lipid profile in active and inactive men. Methods: in this quasi-experimental study, ۲۶ active (n = ۱۳) and inactive (n = ۱۳) students aged (۱۸- ۲۳) years old participated voluntarily. All subject performed aerobic exercises for ۴ weeks, ۳ sessions per week and ۶۰ minutes with intensity of ۶۰- ۷۵ % of maximum heart rate reserve per session. Blood sample was taken in the pretest and ۲۴ hours after the last aerobic exercise session in the post- test. Independent sample t- test and paired sample t- test were used to analyze the data (p≤۰.۰۵). Results: Serum levels of homocysteine (P = ۰.۰۰۱) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = ۰.۰۰۳) significantly decreased in the active group compared to the inactive group. However, there were no significant difference in the changes of C-reactive protein (P = ۰.۱۲), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = ۰.۵۶), triglyceride (P = ۰.۲۴), total cholesterol (P = ۰.۲۱), total cholesterol to high density lipoprotein (P = ۰.۵۲) and triglyceride to high density lipoprotein (P = ۰.۲۶), between active and inactive group. Conclusion: It appears that serum levels of homocysteine reduced further after four weeks of exercise in active subjects in comparison with inactive subjects. However, the improvement in the serum levels of C-reactive protein and lipid profiles after four weeks of exercise training were the same in both active and inactive individuals.

Keywords:

Exercise , C- Reactive Protein , Homocysteine , Lipid Profile